The erie canalway heritage fund, INC. Develops and implements projects that foster partnerships, promote recreational opportunities, preserve and share the heritage of the canalway and foster…

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund Inc. a $2.127 million cooperative agreement under the Heritage Partnership Program (CFDA 15.939) effective August 1, 2025, through October 31, 2027. This award supports the organization's role as the coordinating management entity for the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in New York. The cooperative agreement funds implementation of heritage preservation and community engagement initiatives that advance the goals of the designated National Heritage Area, including historic preservation activities, heritage tourism development, interpretation and education programming, and environmental stewardship initiatives.

The funded activities promote recreational opportunities, preserve the cultural and historical resources of the New York State canal system, and foster economic development in central New York communities. Products and services delivered through this cooperative agreement align with the Heritage Partnership Program's emphasis on historic site preservation, volunteer steward training, educational programming, heritage trail development, and community-based projects that engage visitors and residents in environmental stewardship. These initiatives strengthen the Erie Canalway corridor's capacity to preserve nationally significant cultural and natural resources while generating tangible benefits for the local region through heritage tourism and economic revitalization.

The erie canalway heritage fund, INC. Develops and implements projects that foster partnerships, promote recreational opportunities, preserve and share the heritage of the canalway and foster tourism and economic development, and providing financial support to the region and staff, bolstering the local economy.